Woman's hi to 'cat' leads her to scat ...

Jenna Krehbiel's first trip to the circus with her family is one she never will forget after she came face to face with a jungle cat in the women's bathroom.

Krehbiel had finished watching the large-cat event during the 7 p.m. show at the Isis Shrine Circus on Saturday at the Salina Bicentennial Centennial Center when she decided to step out to go to the bathroom but instead got a close-up view of a tiger she had just seen perform in the arena.

"I went in to use the bathroom, and a lady came in to get her daughter out and said there was a tiger loose," Krehbiel said. "I didn't know it was in the bathroom, and I walked in the (open) door, which closed right after I had walked in. I saw the tiger; it was at most two feet in front of me, and I turned around calmly and walked back toward the door. Someone opened the door and said, 'Get out.' "

Krehbiel said the tiger "wasn't the biggest one" performing, but she estimated it was more than 250 pounds.

"It was the closest I have ever been to a tiger not in a cage," Krehbiel said. "You don't expect to go in a bathroom door, have it shut behind you, and see a tiger walking toward you."

Chris Bird, manager at the Bicentennial Center, said the tiger escaped during the show, and staff quickly barricaded off the concourse. He said the tiger veered off into an open bathroom and a security guard got people out, shut the door behind the tiger and barricaded the door. Krehbiel went in the opposite door.

Bird said he hadn't heard about Krehbiel's account until contacted by the Salina Journal but confirmed, after talking with circus personnel and security, that it was "definitely accurate," although he doesn't know how close she got to the tiger.

"I am sure she saw the tiger because the bathroom is only 25 feet long," Bird said. "Once she saw the tiger, I'm sure she knew to go the other way. Overall, it was a scary, surreal moment. I am glad no one was hurt or injured."

Krehbiel said her husband talked with a person from the circus who told him the animals are well trained and there was no risk. She said he told them the tiger is a wild animal.

Bird said a veterinarian from Rolling Hills Zoo came to check on the tiger. He said the veterinarian said the tiger was OK.

Differing views

Krehbiel said she has been asked why she didn't scream or run. She attributed that to her training as a social worker.

"I'm always on alert, and it was easy to walk out; that's how I am trained," Krehbiel said. "Looking back, it was a scary ordeal. At the time, I was thinking I just needed to get out."

Krehbiel said her friends have joked with her about the tiger incident being similar to one in the movie "The Hangover" where a tiger belonging to Mike Tyson is found in the bathroom of a hotel room being used by Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms after a night of partying.

Krehbiel said her 3-year-old had a different view of the event.

"My daughter wanted to know if it had washed its hands," Krehbiel said. "That was her only concern. I think that shows the thoughts of children and that they wouldn't have known there was danger."

As far as future trips to the circus, Krehbiel isn't sure.

"We'll see," Krehbiel said. "I prefer a zoo, where I know they won't get loose."